Simply called "F1" by its legions of fans, the racing series has a global TV audience extending to nearly 200 countries. Each year F1 runs its custom-built cars in races on five continents. Despite a regular stop in Canada, the series hasn't run in the U.S. since a seven-year Indianapolis stint ended in 2007 after a contract-renewal impasse between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and management at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Which brings us to Austin, Texas, where a purpose-built track will host the U.S. Grand Prix today at 2 p.m. ET. Dubbed the Circuit of the Americas, about 120,000 people are expected to show up at the course to see a duel in the penultimate race of the 2012 season between this year's two remaining title contenders.

"We said yesterday, after qualifying probably Red Bull will be one or two, we will be seventh or eighth, people will think that it's all over. And then Sunday, rest assured we can score more points than Vettel. I don't know how, but I have this feeling inside."

Head over to the American-Statesman for blanket coverage of the big race and its impact on that city. You can watch the U.S. Grand Prix — and the final race of the year in Brazil — on cable's Speed channel.

While the world may be watching the race in Austin, Americans are more likely to be watching another race today. NASCAR, the premier racing series in the U.S., finishes its season with the title on the line in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. Points leader Brad Keselowski is on the front row for the start of the 3 p.m. ET race, which can be seen on ESPN.